RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Authorities in Saudi Arabia say a police officer has been killed in a drive-by shooting in the east of the kingdom.

Police said in comments carried by the official Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday that the officer was killed late the previous night in the village of al-Jish.

The community is located in the eastern Qatif region, which is the heartland of Saudi Arabia's Shiite Muslim minority and was the site of deadly bombing at a Shiite mosque in May that was claimed by an Islamic State group affiliate. Saudi Shiites have long complained of discrimination in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Several police officers and civilians have been targeted in shootings believed to be linked to IS sympathizers in recent months.